presenting the author

That headline might do as a compact description, but is probably too
short to make sense to most visitors. Have to come up with something slightly
more elaborate.
OK, here we go…

Analog electronics since 1963, higher voltages (~40KV) since 1973,
mecha­tronic automa­tion/​IT since 1979, on the web since 1996, active in web
design/​develop­ment at least since 2002.

Now semi-retired technocrat, acting as farm-assistant and whatever else he
finds it somewhat useful to spend time on. The problem is to find time to spend.

profes­sional trouble­shooter.

Can't really remember when it all started, but problem-solving has been an
important ingredient in all positions held throughout his career. Solving
existing problems and finding working solutions to get around new problems, can
be quite satisfying and rewarding.

He doesn't seek problems in need of solutions as eagerly as he once did. May
have grown a wee bit tired of the process involved over the years, mostly
the part involving humans and their many bugs and peculiarities. Easier to focus
entirely on technology.

The web still from time to time produces a few problems worth
solving, even if these also almost always involve those troublesome human beings.
Thus, he is looking forward to a few more years with interesting challenges
in the fields of web design and web development.

so far so good.

Pragmatism, deter­mination, and a solid dose of good luck, has
helped him overcome many problems and reached many goals over the years. He
hasn't made up his mind if it makes sense to reach all that many more goals in
the years remaining.
He doesn't have high thoughts of “free fare through life“ though, so
he is likely to come up with a few more goals worth aiming for – just
for the fun of it if nothing else.

In later years he has taken up an old hobby: making music. In par­ti­cular
playing the pedal steel guitar.
The goal is realistic, in that he wants to get back into his comfort-zone which
is to play at about the level he did a decade or so ago.

Will take time, as there are no substitutes for practicing, practicing and
more practicing to master this peculiar instrument. But, the journey to get there
is of course half the fun, and it is an excellent excuse for traveling the world
to look and listen for inspiration, and to play.

It is to his advantage that he isn't afraid of failing. Failures
serve their purpose as corrections on route to improved solutions, and it is part
of his philosophy that one can, and indeed must, continue to learn from both
successes and failures if one wants to reach goals worth reaching and live
a life worth living.

A success/failure rate of 1/100 would be ideal, so it may be
seen as a complete failure that his rate seems to be closer to 1/20.
He definitely got to do something about that … must find time to make more mistakes.

more personally.

I was born in 1953 – a very good year they say. Thus, I am
slightly past my first youth, and have a way to go to reach my second.
Unless I choke on a pizza, or something
of that nature in the not too distant
future, I may at least be around long enough to mess upfill
up this site to a reasonable level with stuff of my own making. As
usual in these days and age: no guarantees.

No matter what; I like it here, and given time
I will make something out of this site. I don't pay attention to trends,
so I will populate this site with stuff I am genuinely interested in.
Others may find some of it interesting too – or so I hope.

side notes.

objective?

The author often carries a camera for snap­ping pictures
wher­ever and when­ever an inter­esting object may appear. On rare
occasions he is the object.

(For other interpre­tations, check out his writings.)

On a side-note: the author's beard is usually not quite as
“impressive” as in the picture – see the
sign-off image, but he has received a few “Santa Claus”
comments over the years. No career-plans in that direction though –
sorry kids.

home office…

Home and office is where I happen to be in the world,
and as long as the internet‐connection is good all else is less important.
Guess that's what happens when an egg-head gets older.
Can't really say since one only gets one chance at each stage in life, and all
one can do is make the most out of it while it lasts. I am doing
my very best.

not my first language.

English is my third language – after two parallel Norwegian dialects.
Can get by in a few more languages, but would not dare write in them.

I sometimes actually have to think before writing down my
thoughts in English, which may not be such a bad thing no matter the
language and who's the writer.

Apart from the occasional typo, I at times do manage to write something
that makes sense. I am sure someone will tell me if it comes out wrong. Has
worked OK in the past – good to have friends across the world wide web.

prefer nature and techno­logy.

Conver­sations with intelligent beings out on their pasture, or
occasional meetings in the wild, tend to be more rewarding for all parties than
the usual politi­cally correct small-talk in crowded settings. No question
what this author prefers when he has a choice.

Mountains, oceans, wide open ranges … are preferred settings over noisy,
smoggy and crowded cities. Of course, there has to be good internet connection in the wild, or
else it simply won't do in our days and age.

It is also an abso­lute precon­dition that the
lady pic­tured here must be within reach, or else no place on earth will
do for very long for this author – he'll get homesick.

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addendum

for the life of Georg…

the author's home is about as far south
in mainland Norway as you can get, in a small municipality called Mandalwith a
population of around 15'000 as of the year 2011. Mandal is also the name of our local town / municipality-center,
which apart from being a popular tourist-destination during the summer-months
with its many “traditionally white”(*) houses, friendly beaches and
a good harbor, also serves the local population well all year round –
it's a typical “bread and milk” town.(*) The true traditional color on private houses
in this part of Norway would be light-yellow, as that was the color of the cheapest
paint back in time. The more modern local administration apparently didn't like
that old tradition, so they redefined it decades ago. So much for “upholding
traditions”.
Distances from Mandal to some larger Norwegian cities:Stavangeris
185 km (115 miles) drive in westerly direction.Kristiansandis
35 km (22 miles) drive in easterly direction.

the author's wife owns and runs a small farm in Mandal,
a few minutes drive north of the town-center. This is where the author spends
most of his time, acting as farm-assistant and handyman, when he isn't playing music
or pushing bits and bytes.
The quiet life on a small farm leaves time open
for writing stuff and maintaining web sites, in between other interests and hobbies.
The nature on and around the farm is perfect for maintaining physical and mental
health. It is a good place to live for a semi‐retired technocrat, as long
as he can connect with the world.
Additional info about the
author's wife, and our home, as of
May/June 2014.